The goodwill – and patriotism -- of three Chambersburg Area High School students who got the French flag displayed on borough property should be a point of pride and an example to the community.

Random thoughts on a few things going on in and around Franklin County:

First, the goodwill – and patriotism -- of three Chambersburg Area High School students who got the French flag displayed on borough property in solidarity after the terrorist attacks should be a point of pride and an example to the community.

After the attacks in Paris last month that killed 130 people, Jonathan Papoutsis, Hanna Cyr and Dakota Williams wanted to do something to help. They recalled how Europeans displayed the U.S. flag after 9/11, so they purchased a French flag online, went to borough council and asked them to display it in a prominent place.

The flag is now on display for 30 days at Chambersburg's East Point World War I memorial.

The students’ action is a credit to their upbringing, their school and the community.

They cut through the rancor and narcissism of the current political climate, with empathy. Further they not only came up with a good idea, they presented it to borough council, and got it done.

They didn’t wait for their teachers to tell them what to do. They didn’t just post a flag image on their social media sites, they bought a real flag. They considered posting the flag without permission, but quickly decided to go through proper local channels, at the risk of disagreement or defeat.

They made their case, compromised and succeeded, despite some grumbling by a few in the community about American flag etiquette and whether this would set a precedent requiring the borough to display all manner of flags including the flag of ISIS.

What the students did was a welcome act of empathy and global awareness, and it also demonstrated a confident rather than belligerent patriotism. They understood that the act of displaying the flag of a close ally in these circumstances does not undercut our own flag or democratic system, but enhances them.

Public Opinion regularly highlights students for sports and academic accomplishments. We are also pleased to recognize these three for demonstrating lessons too many of us have forgotten.

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On another local topic, we confer a big “thumbs down” on the people who trash our state forest. Their handiwork becomes particularly apparent this time of year, when the trees and vegetation are dormant and no longer hiding the evidence of some people’s arrogance, laziness and ignorance.

Volunteers removed several tons of trash recently from Michaux State Forest along 4 miles of Rattlesnake Run Road. Meanwhile authorities say with the help of surveillance cameras they’ve charged 25 people this year with illegal dumping. Dumping has lessened over recent years but it’s always an ongoing problem.

It makes us wonder if the greatest problem on Rattlesnake Run Road and elsewhere isn’t the human snakes.

Becky Bennett is editor of Public Opinion. Email babennett@publicopiniononnews.com.